Flat panel display device and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A flat panel display device includes a display area in which a desired image is displayed, and a non-display area arranged outside the display area and bordering the display area, and further includes bank portions arranged in a pattern in the display area and partitioning a plurality of first openings, emission elements arranged at the first openings, dummy bank portions formed in the non-display area in substantially a same pattern as the bank portions and partitioning a plurality of second openings, an absorbing material layer for removing oxygen/moisture located at the second openings, and a sealing passivation layer isolating the emission elements from the outside air and including a structure having at least two layers comprising an organic film and an inorganic film deposited alternately. Thus, the emission elements are prevented from being oxidized or corroded by a harmful material, and in a manner that minimizes additional processes.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2006-0003120, filed on Jan. 11, 2006 and all the benefits accruingtherefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, and the contents of which in itsentirety are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flat panel display device and methodthereof, and more particularly, to a flat panel display devicepreventing oxidation/corrosion of an emission element due to harmfulmaterial such as oxygen/moisture, thereby enhancing the reliability ofthe product and prolonging the lifetime, and a method of protecting thedisplay area of a flat panel display device from moisture and oxygen.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional flat panel displaydevice and in particular, an organic light-emitting display devicedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,568. Referring to FIG. 1, an organiclight-emitting device (“OLED”) 20 is formed over a substrate 11. Whilenot shown in FIG. 1, the OLED 20 has a structure in which a firstelectrode layer constituting an anode injecting holes, an organic filmemitting light by recombination of holes and electrons, and a secondelectrode layer constituting a cathode injecting electrons are depositedsuccessively. In the organic film, light is generated by therecombination of holes and electrons injected from the respective firstand second electrode layers. To this end, the first electrode layer maybe formed of a high work function material and the second electrodelayer be formed of a low work function material. The second electrodelayer is highly active and chemically unstable and thus reacts easilywith moisture or oxygen from the outside air causing oxidization orcorrosion. With the permeation of moisture or oxygen into the organicfilm, the emission characteristic of the emission film is degraded dueto the changed crystalline structure of the emission film. According tothe conventional art, at the upper and lower portions of the OLED 20, amulti-layered protective layer, in which high-density layers 41 andplanarizing layers 42 are arranged alternately, is formed. Thehigh-density layers 41 are formed of dense atomic array material toprevent the permeation of oxygen/moisture from the outside. Also, anabsorbing layer 60 absorbing oxygen/moisture is formed between theplanarizing layers 42 to absorb the permeated material and the absorbinglayer 60 includes a metal element having good reactivity tooxygen/moisture.

According to the conventional art, an active metal element, having asame material as the absorbing layer 60, must be made into a paste typesuitable for coating to form a thin film of the absorbing layer 60 andthus an additional material such as a vehicle or a binder is required.Also, because the absorbing layer 60 is formed to be a thin film typeand the amount of the active metal element contained in the absorbinglayer 60 is limited below a desired level, the absorbing layer 60 issaturated early and does not function effectively and thus there areproblems due to the permeation of harmful material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flat panel display device preventingthe degradation of performance over a period of time by blocking thepermeation of harmful material such as oxygen or moisture.

The present invention also provides a flat panel display deviceminimizing an additional process or an additional manufacturing cost.

The present invention also provides a method of protecting a displayarea of the flat panel display device from moisture and oxygen.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided a flat panel display device including a display area in which adesired image is displayed, and a non-display area bordering the displayarea, the display device including bank portions arranged in a patternin the display area and partitioning a plurality of first openings,emission elements arranged at the first openings, dummy bank portionsformed in the non-display area in substantially a same pattern as thebank portions in the display area, the dummy bank portions partitioninga plurality of second openings, an absorbing material layer located atthe second openings to absorb oxygen/moisture, a sealing passivationlayer isolating the emission elements from an outside of the displaydevice and having a structure including at least two layers in which anorganic film and an inorganic film are alternately deposited.

According to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thereis provided a flat panel display device including a display area inwhich a desired image is displayed, and a non-display area bordering thedisplay area, the display device including bank portions arranged in apattern in the display area and partitioning a plurality of firstopenings, emission elements arranged at the first openings, dummy bankportions formed in the non-display area in substantially a same patternas the bank portions in the display area, the dummy bank portionspartitioning a plurality of second openings, an absorbing material layerlocated at the second openings to remove oxygen/moisture, a sealingpassivation layer isolating the emission elements from an outside andincluding a structure having at least two layers including an organicfilm having a planarizing effect and an inorganic film depositedalternately with the organic film, an organic film of the sealingpassivation layer arranged at an interface of the sealing passivationlayer contacting the emission elements.

According to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thereis provided a method of protecting a display area of a flat paneldisplay device from moisture and oxygen, the method including formingbank portions in the display area, the bank portions partitioning aplurality of first openings, forming dummy bank portions in anon-display area surrounding the display area, the dummy bank portionspartitioning a plurality of second openings, arranging emission elementswithin the first openings, locating absorbing material within each ofthe second openings, the absorbing material absorbing moisture andoxygen, and covering the emission elements and the absorbing materialwith a sealing passivation layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional flat panel displaydevice;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of an exemplary flat panel display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.2B is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary flatpanel display device of FIGS. 2A and 2B according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary flat panel displaydevice of FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exemplary flatpanel display device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exemplary flatpanel display device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary flat panel displaydevice according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”another element, it can be directly on the other element or interveningelements may be present there between. In contrast, when an element isreferred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includesany and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus,a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed belowcould be termed a second element, component, region, layer or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations fromthe shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, ofmanufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus,embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limitedto the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are toinclude deviations in shapes that result, for example, frommanufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flatmay, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharpangles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of an exemplary flat panel display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.2B is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIG. 2A,the flat panel display device includes a first or lower substrate 111and a second or upper substrate 150. The substrates 111 and 150 may bemade of insulating materials, and may further be transparent materials,such as, but not limited to glass and plastic. The flat panel displaydevice includes a display area DP where a desired image is displayed,and a non-display area bordering the display area DP with a desiredwidth W. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the display area DP, a plurality ofsubpixels SP are arranged in an array and each subpixel SP is classifiedinto a red subpixel (R), a green subpixel (G), and a blue subpixel (B)according to emission color. A unit pixel P includes a red subpixel, agreen subpixel and a blue subpixel and each subpixel SP includes anemission element (referred to as an “organic light-emitting device 120”)having a corresponding emission color. The non-display area is locatedalong the outside of the display area DP to provide a shielding functionto the display area DP, as will be further described below.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary flatpanel display device of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of theexemplary flat panel display device of FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV ofFIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the display area DP is provided with bankportions 131 arranged in a matrix pattern and partitioning a pluralityof first openings 120′ and films for the organic light-emitting device120 are deposited in the first openings 120′. The bank portions 131 arelocated between and surround the adjacent organic light-emitting devices120 to prevent optical and electrical interference so the organiclight-emitting devices 120 can operate independently with respect toeach other and can each define a subpixel SP. Each organiclight-emitting device 120 includes a first electrode 121 and a secondelectrode 127, and an organic film interposed between the first andsecond electrodes 121 and 127. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the organicfilm includes an emission layer 123 and a hole injection layer 125. If alow molecular organic film is used as the organic film, it may have astacked structure of a hole injection layer (“HIL”), a hole transportlayer (“HTL”), an emission layer (“EML”), an electron injection layer(“EIL”), and an electron transport layer (“ETL”) or a combinationthereof. Also, if a high molecular organic film is used as an organicfilm, it may have a stacked structure of a hole transport layer (“HTL”)and an emission layer (“EML”). The organic film is not limited to theabove-described structure, and it may be formed of, for example, asingle emission layer or a two-layered structure of the hole transportlayer and the emission layer or a two-layered structure of the emissionlayer and the electron transport layer.

The emission layer 123 is classified into a red emission layer, a greenemission layer, and a blue emission layer according to emission color.

The first electrode 121 and the second electrode 127 function as acathode and an anode, respectively, and the first electrode 121 may beformed commonly for the plurality of organic light-emitting devices 120and the second electrode 127 may be formed independently for eachorganic light-emitting device 120. The flat panel display deviceaccording to the current embodiment of the present invention is a topemission type and it is desirable for light extraction effectivenessthat the second electrode 127 is formed of a transparent electrodematerial. The transparent electrode material used to form the secondelectrode 127 is, for example, indium tin oxide (“ITO”), indium zincoxide (“IZO”), etc. In the meantime, it is desirable that the firstelectrode 121 is formed of a metal film having good light reflection toreflect light incident from the emission layer 123 upwards. For example,a metal conducting material such as aluminium Al or silver Ag may beused to form the first electrode 121.

The flat panel display device according to the current embodiment of thepresent invention is an active matrix (“AM”) display device includingthin film transistors (“TFTs”). TFTs such as switching TFTs, drivingTFTs, etc. and capacitors may be included in a TFT layer 115 depositedunder the organic light-emitting devices 120. The TFT layer 115 may beformed on the substrate 111, and the first electrode 121 may be formedon the TFT layer 115. The number or type of the TFTs is not limited tothe above-described TFTs. For example, a switching TFT detects an on/offcondition of the corresponding organic light-emitting device 120 and adriving TFT controls the current supplied to the organic light-emittingdevice 120 according to a switching TFT signal. The second electrode 127is connected electrically to a drain electrode of the driving TFT and acontrolled driving current is supplied to the corresponding organiclight-emitting device 120 through the second electrode 127.

In the non-display area, dummy bank portions 135, integrated with thebank portions 131 in the display area DP, are provided. The pattern ofthe bank portions 131 provided in the display area DP, i.e., a matrixpattern, extends to the non-display area and the dummy bank portions 135are formed in the same or substantially the same pattern. As a result,the plurality of first openings 120′ formed by the bank portions 131, inwhich the organic light-emitting devices 120 are formed, are segmentedand second openings 160′ having the same shape as that of the firstopenings 120′ are also segmented by the dummy bank portions 135 withinthe non-display area. However, in the second openings 160′, the emissionelements are not formed therein, and instead an absorbing material 160having good affinity to oxygen/moisture is arranged within each of thesecond openings 160′. This structure will be further described below.

The bank portions 131 and the dummy bank portions 135 integrated withthe bank portions 131 may be formed through the following processes.That is, after coating a raw material of the bank portions 131 on asubstrate 111 on which a TFT layer 115 and the first electrode 121 areformed, i.e., coating polymer resin material such as PVA over the wholesurface of the substrate 111 including the display area DP and thenon-display area, by forming a uniform pattern over the display area DPand the non-display area using a patterning process such asphotolithography, the bank portions 131 and the dummy bank portions 135are formed concurrently.

The dummy bank portions 135 perform a shielding function preventing thepermeation of harmful material, thereby preventing the emission layer123 or the first and second electrodes 121 and 127 of the organiclight-emitting device 120 from being oxidized and corroded. Comparedwith a conventional technique requiring an additional process and costfor manufacturing a partitioning wall to prevent the permeation ofharmful material, the present invention uses conventional processesforming bank portions 131 in the display area DP for the dummy bankportions 135 functioning as a shield barrier shielding and thusminimizes additional processes or cost.

The dummy bank portions 135 may have a multi-layered structure tosufficiently prevent the permeation of harmful material. In particular,the dummy bank portions 135 may include dummy banks 135 a located withthe second openings 160′ there between, wherein at least two or moredummy banks 135 a may be arranged to overlap one another to block thepermeation of a harmful material. The absorbing material 160 has goodaffinity to oxygen/moisture and is contained in the second openings 160′partitioned by the dummy bank portions 135. The absorbing material 160may be made of mainly barium Ba, calcium Ca, strontium Sr, etc., or amixture thereof in which other functional elements are added or amixture of at least two or more elements described above. For example,the absorbing material 160 may be deposited in the respective secondopenings 160′ between the dummy bank portions 135 by screen-printing. Bythe screen-printing process, a screen mask on which the matrix patternis formed, i.e., the same pattern as the dummy bank portions 135 islocated on the dummy bank portions 135 and the absorbing material 160deposited on the screen mask is pressed by, for example, a squeegeethrough the openings of the screen mask.

The absorbing material 160 arranged along the outside of the displayarea DP is located on the permeating path of the harmful material so itabsorbs and removes the harmful material before it reaches the organiclight-emitting devices 120. In particular, the absorbing material 160 iscontained in the second openings 160′ surrounded by the dummy bankportions 135 so that the capacity to store an absorption materialmarkedly increases, compared with conventional thin film type absorptionfilms, and the ability to absorb oxygen/moisture likewise increases.Thus, the absorbing material 160 can remove not only a harmful materialpermeating from the outside but also the remaining material within.Also, since the absorbing material 160 within each second opening 160′is surrounded by the dummy bank portions 135, a granular absorbingmaterial 160 may be contained in the openings 160′ without the help of avehicle for coating.

In order to further prevent the permeation of moisture and oxygen intothe flat panel display device, a sealing passivation layer 140 having amulti-layer structure of an organic film 141 and an inorganic film 145is formed on the organic light-emitting devices 120. The sealingpassivation layer 145 may be formed between the organic light-emittingdevices 120 and the substrate 150. The sealing passivation layer 140 isformed by alternately stacking the inorganic film 141 and the organicfilm 145. In this case, the sealing passivation layer 140 has at leastone organic film 141 and one inorganic film 145.

The organic film 141 may be formed of a high molecular organic film, forexample, polyacrylate, polyurea, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene,methacrylic, acrylic etc. and derivatives thereof or a low molecularweight organic film, but the present invention is not limited thereto.Also, the inorganic film 145 deposited on the organic film 141 may beformed of silicon oxide, silicon carbide or silicon nitride, for exampleSiO₂, SiC, SiN, SiON or In₂O₃, TiO₂, Al₂O₃.

The sealing passivation layer 140 extends across the display area DPwhere the organic light-emitting devices 120 are located to thebordering non-display area and covers the upper portion of the absorbingmaterial 160 located in the non-display area to seal it. The sealingpassivation layer 140 prevents the absorbing material 160 from beingsaturated early compared to the lifetime of the display device. In otherwords, the sealing passivation layer 140 prevents the absorbing material160 from becoming prematurely saturated.

The interface film of the sealing passivation layer 140 directlycontacting the organic light-emitting devices 120 may be formed of theorganic film 141 or the inorganic film 145. However, preferably thedeposition order of films forming the sealing passivation layer 140 maybe determined such that the organic film 141 having a planarizing effectbecomes the interface film.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bank portions 131 and the dummy bank portions135 extending in the same pattern as the bank portions 131 are formed ina matrix pattern and the organic light-emitting devices 120 partitionedby the bank portions 131 or the absorbing material 160 surrounded by thedummy bank portions 135 are arranged in parallel along a first directionand in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Thescope of the invention, however, is not limited to the pattern of thebank portions 131.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two examples of alternate embodiments of the patternof the bank portions 131 and dummy bank portions 135. FIGS. 5 and 6 arepartially exploded perspective views of exemplary flat panel displaydevices according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. InFIGS. 5 and 6, like reference numerals denote like elements in theprevious embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the organic light-emittingdevices 120 partitioned by the bank portions 131 may be arranged inparallel along a first direction but may also be arranged in a zigzagformation along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.In another example, referring to FIG. 6, the organic light-emittingdevices 120 partitioned by the bank portions 131 may have variouspolygonal shapes, such as those arranged in a honeycomb structure. Otherexemplary embodiments would also be within the scope of theseembodiments. In the modified embodiments, as in the prior embodiment, inorder to prevent the oxidation/corrosion of the organic light-emittingdevices 120 contained in the first openings 120′, the absorbing material160 is contained in the second openings 160′ partitioned by the dummybank portions 135 and a multi-layered sealing passivation layer 140 islocated on the organic light-emitting devices 120 as well as on theabsorbing material 160.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary flat panel displaydevice according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of bank portions 131 areprovided in a desired pattern on the first electrode 121 and films 123,125, and 127 forming organic light-emitting devices 120 are depositedsuccessively in a plurality of first openings 120′ partitioned by bankportions 131. In the organic light-emitting devices 120, optically andelectrically independent emission areas are formed by the bank portions131. Dummy bank portions 135 are provided by extending the bank portions131 over the outside of the display area DP into the non-display areaand a plurality of second openings 160′ are segmented by the dummy bankportions 135. The bank portions 131 and the dummy bank portions 135 maybe made concurrently during a process of manufacturing the flat paneldisplay device. While the first openings 120′ in the display area DP areprovided for the organic light-emitting devices 120 and define theemission area, the second openings 160′ are provided for an absorbingmaterial 160 having good ability to absorb oxygen/moisture to preventthe deterioration of the organic light-emitting devices 120. In thepresent embodiment, the absorbing material 160 does not entirely fillthe second openings 160′ provided by the dummy bank portions 135 butinstead only partly fills the second openings 160′. Thus, the upperportion of the absorbing material 160 is stepped with the upper portionof the dummy bank portions 135. In other words, a height of theabsorbing material 160 is less than a height of the dummy bank portions135.

The dummy bank portions 135 play a role in blocking oxygen/moisture inorder that the organic light-emitting devices 120 do not react withforeign material. Thus, it is desirable that at least two or more dummybanks 135 a overlap each other.

A sealing passivation layer 140 is located on the organic light-emittingdevices 120 to prevent the permeation of oxygen/moisture and extends notonly in the display area DP in which the organic light-emitting devices120 are located, but also in the non-display area in which the absorbingmaterial 160 is located. Also, the sealing passivation layer 140 locatedon the non-display area covers the absorbing material 160 and seals it.Increasing the number of organic films 141/inorganic films 145 formingthe sealing passivation layer 140 improves the shielding performance tooxygen/moisture. In the present embodiment, by increasing the number offilms of the sealing passivation layer 140 in the non-display areasealing the absorbing material 160, the absorbing material 160 is sealedfrom external oxygen/moisture. When the absorbing material 160 issaturated by rapid reaction with external oxygen/moisture, it cannotcontinue to function as an absorbing material. Thus, it is required thatthe capability of the absorbing material 160 is maintained during thelifetime of the display device.

The inorganic film 145 having good resistance to oxygen/moisture maydirectly contact the absorbing material 160. It is desirable that theinterface film of the sealing passivation layer 140 directly contactingthe organic light-emitting devices 120 is the organic film 141 which hasa planarizing effect. Thus, a thickness of the sealing passivation layer140 within the non-display area is thicker than a thickness of thesealing passivation layer 140 in the display area DP.

In view of the above-described exemplary embodiments, a method ofprotecting a display area of a flat panel display device from moistureand oxygen is made possible. The method may include forming bankportions in the display area, the bank portions partitioning a pluralityof first openings, forming dummy bank portions in a non-display areasurrounding the display area, the dummy bank portions partitioning aplurality of second openings, arranging emission elements within thefirst openings, locating absorbing material within each of the secondopenings, the absorbing material absorbing moisture and oxygen, andcovering the emission elements and the absorbing material with a sealingpassivation layer.

In the meantime, for the convenience of explanation, the active matrix(“AM”) flat panel display device controlling a signal input to eachpixel using a thin film transistor (“TFT”) is described as an embodimentalthough the invention may be applied to a passive matrix (“PM”) flatpanel display device regardless of the driving method.

According to the flat panel display device of the present invention, byimproving the arrangement structure of absorbing material to removeharmful material such as oxygen/moisture, degradation of performance,such as production of dark spots that have substantially lost displayfunction and degradation of luminescence, etc. are prevented.

In particular, according to the flat panel display device of the presentinvention, by using a conventional process of forming bank portions inthe display area, dummy banks are formed together with the bank portionsto seal the device, thereby minimizing additional manufacturingprocesses or additional manufacturing costs.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A flat panel display device comprising a display area in which adesired image is displayed, and a non-display area bordering the displayarea, the display device comprising: bank portions arranged in a patternin the display area and partitioning a plurality of first openings;emission elements arranged at the first openings; dummy bank portionsformed in the non-display area in substantially a same pattern as thebank portions in the display area, the dummy bank portions partitioninga plurality of second openings; an absorbing material layer located atthe second openings to absorb oxygen/moisture; and a sealing passivationlayer isolating the emission elements from an outside of the displaydevice and having a stacked structure including at least two layers inwhich an organic film and an inorganic film are alternately deposited.2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the absorbing material layeris formed of at least one of barium, calcium, and strontium.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the emission element is an organiclight-emitting device comprising a first electrode and a secondelectrode, and an organic film inserted between the first and secondelectrodes.
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein a first substrateand a second substrate are disposed facing each other with the emissionelements disposed there between, and the first and second substrates areformed of a glass or plastic material.
 5. The display device of claim 1,wherein the sealing passivation layer extends from the display area inwhich the emission elements are arranged to the non-display area andcovers an upper portion of the absorbing material layer.
 6. The displaydevice of claim 5, wherein, at an interface of the sealing passivationlayer directly contacting the absorbing material, an inorganic film ofthe sealing passivation layer is arranged.
 7. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the dummy bank portions include at least two dummybanks arranged in series with the second openings there between.
 8. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the emission elements include a firstelectrode underlying the first and second openings, and the bankportions in the display area, the dummy bank portions in the non-displayarea, films of the emission elements, and the absorbing material layerare formed on the first electrode.
 9. The display device of claim 1,wherein the absorbing material layer is granular.
 10. A flat paneldisplay device comprising a display area in which a desired image isdisplayed, and a non-display area bordering the display area, thedisplay device comprising: bank portions arranged in a pattern in thedisplay area and partitioning a plurality of first openings; emissionelements arranged at the first openings; dummy bank portions formed inthe non-display area in substantially a same pattern as the bankportions in the display area, the dummy bank portions partitioning aplurality of second openings; an absorbing material layer located at thesecond openings to remove oxygen/moisture; and a sealing passivationlayer covering the emission elements and the absorbing material, thesealing passivation layer including a stacked structure of at least twolayers comprising an organic film having a planarizing effect and aninorganic film deposited alternately with the organic film, an organicfilm of the sealing passivation layer arranged at an interface of thesealing passivation layer directly contacting the emission elements. 11.The display device of claim 10, wherein an upper surface of theabsorbing material layer and an upper surface of the dummy bank portionshave a step difference, and at least one film of the sealing passivationlayer is formed on the upper surface of the absorbing material layer toremove the step difference.
 12. The display device of claim 10, whereinthe absorbing material layer is formed of at least one of barium,calcium, and strontium.
 13. The display device of claim 10, wherein theinorganic film is arranged at an interface of the sealing passivationlayer directly contacting the absorbing material layer.
 14. The displaydevice of claim 10, wherein the dummy bank portions include at least twodummy banks arranged in series with the second openings there between.15. A method of protecting a display area of a flat panel display devicefrom moisture and oxygen, the method comprising: forming bank portionsin the display area, the bank portions partitioning a plurality of firstopenings; forming dummy bank portions in a non-display area surroundingthe display area, the dummy bank portions partitioning a plurality ofsecond openings; arranging emission elements within the first openings;locating absorbing material within each of the second openings, theabsorbing material absorbing moisture and oxygen; and, covering theemission elements and the absorbing material with a sealing passivationlayer.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the bank portions inthe display area and forming the dummy bank portions in the non-displayarea occurs substantially simultaneously.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein forming the bank portions in the display area and forming thedummy bank portions in the non-display area includes forming the bankportions in the display area and the dummy bank portions in thenon-display area in a substantially same pattern.
 18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the sealing passivation layer includes at least twolayers of alternately arranged organic and inorganic films, and coveringthe emission elements and the absorbing material with a sealingpassivation layer includes interfacing the emission elements with anorganic layer of the sealing passivation layer.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein locating absorbing material within each of the secondopenings includes filling the second openings with the absorbingmaterial to a height less than a height of the dummy bank portions, andcovering the emission elements and the absorbing material with a sealingpassivation layer includes interfacing the absorbing material with aninorganic layer of the sealing passivation layer.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein forming the bank portions in the display area andforming the dummy bank portions in the non-display area includes coatingpolymer resin material on a substrate of the display device andpatterning the polymer resin material using photolithography.